Reviews

Monday, March 20, 2017

It's new release time again and I'm delighted to present for your reading pleasure, The Girl who Loved the Whales, the second volume in my Islesong series. Now, please remember that the first volume is in its second edition - you need to read the last 3 chapters of The Girl who Sang with Whales (at least) or you may be confused. Please update your Kindle.

This tale is a journey from darkness into light, a formative and ultimately beautiful revelation of Zhialeiana's background and origins, and features another gorgeous cover from Victorine Lieske.

(Sneaky confession: I have already finished drafting book 3 as well - that's coming soon too)

Singer of Sea-Dragons. A terrible secret possesses her soul. Yet, the journey into darkness has barely begun. For the powers of nightsong, of dread and terror and pain, have laid claim upon the life-current of a girl with a matchless gift.

’Twas the current of terror we sailed that daysong,Like a Sea-Dragon’s heart was its pulse.

Myriad dangers lurk across the long leagues. Pirates. Treacherous Battlecats. A Hunter from the Deep and a city besieged by Sea-Dragons. The combative Bardsong of a mighty War-Titan–what are his wicked plans for her? With strength born of love, Zhialeiana must conquer all.

Now, her journey has begun. Betrayed at every turn, can the Girl who Sang with Whales learn to sing a new Song? Can she save the Whales she loves?

Friday, March 3, 2017

In today's guest post I am delighted to introduce the work of Missy Sheldrake, an author/illustrator of no small talent, author of The Keepers of the Wellsprings epic fantasy. The artwork is simply gorgeous - here's a picture of one of the characters, Flit:

Now, without further ado, let's hear from Missy herself:

I’m so excited to announce the fourth book in my
Keepers of the Wellsprings series: Call of Hywilkin, which will be
released on Amazon March 3! If you haven’t read the previous books yet, read on
for a quick crash course on the series.

On release day, March 3, I’’ll be offering books 1-3 free to celebrate the release of book 4! (Marc says: Overhere)

When I started writing and illustrating this
series, I really wanted to tell a story that was rich with fantasy, but not
overly dark or mired with war and violence. I wanted to show the light side of
fantasy: the cheerful, magical, uplifting side which I always drink up whenever
it emerges in a story, and which always seems to be so fleeting in fantasy
tales. I wanted to tell a story that would capture the hearts of young and old
alike. Don’t get me wrong, my books aren’t void of conflict and evil. There is mild
violence and not-so-mild wickedness, but it’s those moments in my stories which
are the fleeting ones. In the pages of my books, you will find fairies, Mages,
Paladins, Elves, Dreamwalkers, Princes and Princesses, and even dragons. You’ll
travel through a world rich with magic and wonder. You’ll make new,
unforgettable friends.

In Call of Kythshire, you’ll learn all
about Cerion, a seaside kingdom which has celebrated peace for over a century.
You’ll meet His Majesty’s Elite, a guild that is the right hand adventuring
team of King Tirnon Plethore, and you’ll join Azi Hammerfel, a young squire who
has grown up within the guild’s halls, through disappointments and triumphs. By
her side is Rian, her childhood friend, an Apprentice of the Mage Academy.
You’ll meet Flit, a fairy from Kythshire, who is as tricky as any fairy you
might imagine, but has a depth of character and a sense of purpose uncommon for
a typical fairy. You’ll see her world unfold, and feel the evil threat of Sorcery
that looms, waiting to destroy it. You’ll learn a little about the Wellsprings,
but not too much--their existence and workings are a well-protected secret. (Click here to read an excerpt from Call of Kythshire.)

In Call of Sunteri, you’ll meet the
strong-willed slave boy, Tib, who makes his first appearance as he escapes from
the grips of Sorcery in the desert continent of Sunteri. He has help crossing
the vast oceans to reach Cerion, but he doesn’t realize it at first. A mysterious
being speaks to his mind, controlling his thoughts and making suggestions to
ensure his own survival. In the meantime, Azi has been given the task of
escorting the Prince of Cerion and his wife-with-child to the lakeside Kordelya
Castle as the prince faces suspicion and ridicule after the events of Call
of Kythshire. But a darker force emerges from the Dreaming, whose wicked
intent is to use any means necessary to escape its prison and claim the magic
of the Wellsprings for his own. In this book, you’ll see the devastating
effects of the overuse of magic, and what it does to the Wellsprings and the
creatures who thrive around them. (Click
here to read an excerpt from Call of Sunteri.)

In Call of Brindelier, a dark force
looms, more powerful and destructive than any threat Azi and her guild have yet
faced. You’ll follow Celli, a scrappy street fighter, as she is enticed into
the grips of a powerful Sorcerer. You’ll watch Tib come into his own as he
sneaks through the streets of Cerion, uncovering the darkness while also
working on a mysterious project. You’ll follow Azi on a quest set by Princess
Margary to find proof of Brindelier, a city in the clouds which is the key to
all of the Wellsprings in the Known Lands. But Margy is not the only one
interested in Brindelier. A dark force has been gathering, poised to claim it
for their own. Control over the Wellsprings hangs in the balance. (Click here to read an excerpt from Call of Brindelier.)

In Call of Hywilkin, Azi and Rian find themselves on an urgent quest to Hywilkin, a harsh
land of ice and snow reigned by heartless men with no trust in kindness or
beauty, and a cruel intolerance for magic of any kind.

Lurking in the
far corners of the world, the Sorcerers of Dusk threaten their quest, weaving
darkness into their hearts and minds. In Brindelier, they lure Tib into their
dangerous plots as he investigates the conspiring shadows of the city.Appealing to a Keeper of a Wellspring for an
offering is no easy feat—especially in Hywilkin, where access to the abandoned
magical Source remains forbidden. The Champions of Light must prevail, or
Brindelier’s All-Source and all of the Known Lands will fall forever into the
grips of Sorcery. (Click here to read
an excerpt from Call of Hywilkin.)

This series is appropriate for all ages, but I
recommend 13 and up due to some violent themes. There is no sex, swearing, or
excessively graphic violence in the Keepers of the Wellsprings. Throughout the
series, you’ll encounter daring sword fights, violent magical moments, and a
few quick deaths.

Missy Sheldrake
is an author/illustrator who has been conjuring images of fairies in one form
or another since she was very young. The wind in the trees and the rich scent
of forest earth are her most treasured sources of inspiration, and on most
mornings you will find her wandering the wooded paths, dreaming of the next
adventure she hopes to put to the page.

Missy was born
in Connecticut and attended Western Connecticut State University, where she
earned a Bachelor of Science in Art with a concentration in painting and
illustration. Even then, in her free time, she was writing. She moved to
Northern Virginia several years ago and lives there now, on the outskirts of
Washington D.C., with her true love and their son. She published her first
novel, Call of Kythshire, in March of 2015 and intends to keep writing as long
as the fairies allow it.